Women who allegedly suffered widespread and systemic sexual abuse, harassment, discrimination and victimisation while serving in the Australian defence force are taking part in a class action against the commonwealth.

There are four applicants in the class action, whose names are withheld for legal reasons, but any woman subjected to sexual violence, sexual harassment or discrimination while working in the ADF between 12 November 2003 and 25 May 2025 is eligible to join them.

The first applicant from the air force was the only woman with eight to 12 men on her training course and one of two women in a building of about 200 people.

She alleged comments from her sergeant during her training included “women shouldn’t be paid as much as men because they are not as strong” and “women aren’t

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